Chapter 347 - Su Mei's Invitation
“Don't get hasty. We aren't here to take your Skills. We already took what we needed.” Su Mei's grin was both devious and alluring. “We're here to invite you on a mission. Complete it, and you'll receive a reward far more lucrative than anything this competition offers.”
Leng Ning remained calm. “Don't trust her, Han Wu. She's trying to seduce you, just like Meng Qi did. Control yourself.”
Han Wu really wanted to tell her that his spirit and mental strength were far beyond Su Mei's influence. Instead, he sighed and gestured for Leng Ning to relax. “Tell us more about this mission.”
Su Mei's grin deepened, radiating charm. “As expected from the man I admire. I'll explain the situation. The Violet Demon Academy manages a Survival Site called the Demonic Miasma Forest. Recently, something went wrong with the seal, allowing demonic aura and miasma to leak outward.
“Many of the native creatures were affected. They escaped the sealed area, causing chaos that forced our academy to dispatch numerous teachers to contain it. But their efforts are only temporary. We need someone to enter the forest and reinforce the seal. Currently, only those under twenty can enter due to the seal's restrictions.
“The three of us are strong, but we lack confidence to handle it alone. We entered this competition not only to uphold our academy's prestige but also to find reliable partners. Han Wu, you are exactly the person we need.”
Han Wu listened to her plea patiently and weighed his options. As a transmigrator, he had little reason to care about the Violet Demon Academy's affairs. Still, he welcomed any chance to gain extra resources to strengthen himself. According to Su Mei, a successful mission would yield exactly that, which made him willing to take the risk.
On the other hand, Leng Ning remained guarded. “Han Wu, don't trust them. This is probably a trap. They still resent us for beating them.”
“Leng Ning, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? I'm usually a gentle little girl.” Su Mei looked pitiful, but her every gesture and word contained a hint of seduction.
Meng Qi, acting like a lovestruck fool, defended her. “Leng Ning, there must be some misunderstanding. She's far too pretty to be evil.”
Leng Ning felt an urge to freeze Meng Qi in place and leave him behind to avoid further embarrassment.
Han Wu sighed. “Don't worry. I can judge the situation. I'll retreat if I can't win. I doubt anyone could stop me from escaping.”
Leng Ning recalled that Han Wu could summon Erebard and felt a flicker of relief, though she still worried he would be deceived. “Let me go with you. I won't be a burden.”
Su Mei studied her, evaluating whether she met the criteria. Leng Ning's stage performance had fallen short of Su Mei's expectations, yet her ice-based Skills were undeniably useful. Bringing her along could prove advantageous.
Su Mei nodded. “Alright. Leng Ning, you can come with us.”
Seeing both Han Wu and Leng Ning invited, Meng Qi grew anxious. “What about me? I'm part of the team! I want to go as well.”
“Meng Qi! Stop being foolish and step aside!” Leng Ning snapped.
She was certain Meng Qi would quickly become Su Mei's personal shield, given how infatuated he was. There was a high chance that Su Mei would sacrifice him to protect herself.
Meng Qi refused to accept this quietly. “Why can you go but not me? I want to go with Su— No, with all of you. We're a team!”
Everyone could read his thoughts instantly.
Han Wu decided to help him since he was still a friend. “Let him come with us. No matter what, he's still an excellent tank.”
Meng Qi nearly jumped in excitement. “As expected of my dear friend! You know me well.”
Leng Ning exhaled and fell silent.
Su Mei had no choice but to accept Meng Qi on the mission. She needed Han Wu and Leng Ning, even if Meng Qi was slightly too weak for her taste.
By the time they finished discussing the mission details, the window to select their Skills was nearly gone. Han Wu still hadn't chosen one, so he quickly picked a random Skill inducement method linked to the Space attribute: Dimensional Pocket. The Skill allowed him to create extra space for storing items. It wasn't suited for combat, but its versatility made it exceptionally useful.
Before long, the selection period ended, and they were transported out of the vault. The Aquamarine Wave representatives thawed and nearly engaged Han Wu's team immediately.
Having been frozen, they missed their chance to select Skills within the allotted time. Once the timer expired, their opportunity was gone. Naturally, they had only themselves to blame. If they hadn't insisted on seizing Leng Ning's Skill, they would have had enough time to select their own.
The chief referee, adhering strictly to the rules, dismissed any appeals. The Aquamarine Wave representatives had lost their one and only opportunity.
After collecting their rewards, Han Wu decided the time to meet the Violet Demon representatives before everyone returned to their respective academies.
Back at Azure Sea Academy, the trio received the highest level of hospitality. The principal personally led every teacher and student in welcoming them back. Their outstanding results, coupled with Azure Sea's first-place finish in the inter-academy competition, brought immense pride to the school.
The Association of Academies had already informed the principal that Azure Sea would be upgraded from a low-ranking academy to a high-ranking one, along with a substantial increase in resources for the coming year.
The principal also received accolades from the Association of Academies, elevating him to prominence within educational circles. Once an obscure figure, he had become a well-known and respected educator following the competition.
Even before the new semester and enrollment season started, the academy was flooded with applications from prospective students. Many transfers also arrived, eager to leave prestigious academies to join Azure Sea.
The principal had never experienced the sweet taste of fame before, and he knew clearly that this success owed entirely to Han Wu, Leng Ning, and Meng Qi. He was determined to reward them generously.
The Association of Academies had granted each of the trio a crystal containing one million Assist Points and a powerful Skill. Although Azure Sea did not possess such abundant resources, the academy emptied a significant portion of its vault to provide each of them seven crystals corresponding to the seven potentials. Additionally, the trio was granted unrestricted access to the academy's vault to select any Skill they desired.
Teachers and students alike envied the rewards, but no one objected. Everyone understood how much the academy had benefited from the trio's efforts. Some even suggested erecting statues in their honor for future students to admire, but the trio strongly refused.